Grain-conditioner.



F. A. WEGNER.

GRAIN CONDITIONER.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 9,19I3.

1,139,610. Patented 11111118, 1915.

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narran srarns rafrnnr cierren FREDERICK A. WEGNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR TO MARY 4E. WEGNER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GRAIN-CONDITIONEB.

Application filed June 9, 1913.

constructions and combinations hereinafter described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure1 is' an eleration and partial section of a machine embodying myinvention, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the tubes of theconditioner, Fig. 3 is a section through the centering cap at the upperportion of a conditioning tube, on a plane at right angles to the planeof Fig. 2, Fig. 4y is a longitudinal section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

I employin this machine a Vheating chamber consisting of a suitableVframe upon which is located a heater consisting of upper and lowerfheads3, 3, tubes 4 passing through the heater and having their ends securedin said heads and a shell 5 preferablyv of cylindrical form into whichVthe heads are set and secured, said shell being preferably surrounded bya suitable jacket 7 and heat retaining Vpacking 6. Steam is admitted tothe heating chamber through a suitable pipe S and the water ofcondensation may be drawn off through a pipe 9.

The heating chamber as here shown is arranged upon a suitable platelOhaving openings 11 located one below the end of each tube 4, and aregulating slide 12 is locatedy below the plate 10. A shallow chamber ispreferably formed between the lower head 3 of the heating chamber andthe plate 10. Above the heating chamber is a hopper 14 `which ispreferably yieldingly supported and is connected with suitable meansthat controls the position of the slide 12.

In my application filed April 5, 1913,'Serial No. 759,137, I haveillustrated and described the hopper herein shown and also the means forautomatically controlling the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Serial No. 772;652.

positionof the slide 12 rby the weight of the grain in the hopper, andwhile I have shown the parts in the drawings of this application.` Iconsider it unnecessary to describe the same herein.

rIhe tubes 4 each preferably project a short distancevbeyon'd the outerface of the upper head 3, and is surrounded by concrete (see Fig. 2).The lower ends of the tubes also extend beyond the outer face of thelower-head 3. Arranged in each tube 4 is a spirally coiled wire 16. rIhediameter of this coil is preferably about one-half the diameter yof thetube, and the upper portion of the wire is of less diameter than thelower portion (see Fig. 2). At the lower end of each tube is a centeringsupport consisting preferably of a casting having a flange orV Vring 17that surrounds the projecting end of the tube 4, a central cross bar 18and a projecting lug 19 having outwardly projecting bosses 20. At thetop of each tube 4 is a similar centering cap having a ring 17, a crossbar 13, a lug 19 and projecting bosses y20. The bosses 2O on each lugare preferably arranged one slightly above the other as shown in Fig. 3of the drawings so as to conform to the pitch of the spirally coiledwire. The lugs 19 are also provided with the projections V19', whichbear 'against the inner circumference of the coil, and prevent anysidewise motion of said coil, thereby keeping the coil in the center ofthe tube. The ends of the spirally coiled wires 16 are engaged with thelugs 19 and bosses 2O by screwing said lugs and bosses into the end ofthe coil as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The rings 17 arebrought over the projecting ends of the tubes 4 and the spirally coiledwire is thus centered in theV tube and is firmly held therein whilethere is upon each side of the cross bar 18 a substantiallysemi-circular opening nearly one-half the size of the area of the pipethrough which the grain from the hopper above may flow freely into andthrough the tube 4.

I find that in operation the space within the spirally coiled wire willcompletely fill 'with grain and that this grain will remain thereinwithout any substantial change as long as other grain is flowing throughthe tube, but when the flow of grain to the machine ceases the grainbetween the circumference of the coil and the inner wall of the tubeWill irst run out and; then the grain Within the coil Will also runout.l I also ind that with. this'spira'lly coiled .core centrallyarranged in the tube there is no danger of clogging the grain in thetube. Many of y the kernels of grain project throughY thev coil and itseemsimpossible for the grain t ov -arch over lor' bridge across betweenthe coil and the inner Wall of the tube. This is probably due to thefact that these' project-r ing ends of the kernels of grainvvithin thespiral are also spira'lly arranged and the j kernels of grain do notlodge thereon but Vslide o and pass down the tube. It is also important,as I find from actual practice, to

. have the ends of the spiral centered and held many particulars Withoutdeparting from inyinvention.

y,I claim as my invention:-

1. The combination, in aY grainY heater,

vvithra heatingchamber, provided With heads and an inclrosing shell, ofVtubes extendingl through said heads, open' caps arranged ontheirprojecting ends Voi, said tubes, andcores arranged in said tubesand consisting of spirally coiled Wires havving-their ends engaging saidcaps.

'2.y The combination, 1n a grain heater,

fWith a heating chamber, of heating tubes extending therethrough andYhaving ends 'projecting beyond the' Walls of said chamber, open capsfitting over the ends of said 2, I i Y 1,139,610

tubes, and' a spirally coiled Wire core in each Vtube having its endsengaging said caps.

3; Thev combination,- in. a grain heater,

With-azheating chamber, of tubes extendingy therethrough and having endsprojecting beyond the Walls of said chamber, open ycaps each providedwith a ring engaging the proc jecting end of a tube, and with avdiametrically arrangedcross bar, and aninWardly projecting lug,A and acore formed of a spirally coiled Wire' arranged in each tube with itsends-engaging thelugs on said caps. l

4. The combination, in a grain heater, with a heating chamber, providedWith heatinfg tubes, of a spirally coiled Wire core arranged in eachtube, and an open cap atthe end ofeach tube, engaging the endsof saidoore'andcentering the same in said tube.

5', vThe combination, in a grain heater,

with a heating chamber, of a tube extending ranged cros's bars k18 andthe inwardly projecting lugs vl9fhaving lateral bosses 20, and

the spirally coiled Wire core arranged in saidk tube and having its endsengaging Said lugs and bosses.` Y Y In Witness whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand this'25th day of March 1913.

FREDERICK A. Wiseman.

Witnesses: v

Y EDWARD A. PAUL, Y GENEVIEVE E. SoRENsnN.

A Copies ofthvis patent may be obtaiiied'forY ve cents each, byV,addressing thel Commissioner of Patents, Y Washingtoml): C!! Y A.

